Audio books and movies?

[LillianinAl]

I know this isn't curriculum related, but have a question about some free time activities. My boys, ages 10 and 11, spend time outside in very active play. They also spend a good deal of time listening to audio books on an old radio with a CD player. We have an updated Pilgrims Progress, the whole Little House series, many Adventures in Odyssey episodes, etc. It's time for some new choices. Do you have good suggestions for classic children's literature on CD? I'd like to buy some for Christmas. They just finished Week 9 of SC 3 and are doing pretty well, but they can't just read a book quietly yet.

Also, about once a week, when my DH and I go out for our weekly date night (yay!), our older girls babysit and the boys watch a movie. We have some Narnia, Lord of the Rings, and other good movies. Occasionally I will be out during the week, and they may watch another movie, since they don't always entertain themselves very productively. I try to keep it to one each week, though, because my 11 year old pretends so much that he is one of the characters doing what they do in the movie. He has a very vivid imagination and it can be kind of hard to pull him back out of character. So I try to strongly limit screens for both boys, especially him. We have some Math, Music, and Science experiments videos that our older kids used in their school, so sometimes during the week, the boys may watch those during a rainy afternoon or if Mom is out. Or something short, like a Lone Ranger episode. I don't like using screens to keep the boys busy, and our older bio kids hardly ever watched a movie, but sometimes it's the only thing that will work with the boys. Any suggestions here?

Thanks so much. Sorry this is long! Lillian

[Anita]

Re: Audio books and movies?

I know this isn't curriculum related, but have a question about some free time activities. My boys, ages 10 and 11, spend time outside in very active play. They also spend a good deal of time listening to audio books on an old radio with a CD player. We have an updated Pilgrims Progress, the whole Little House series, many Adventures in Odyssey episodes, etc. It's time for some new choices. Do you have good suggestions for classic children's literature on CD? I'd like to buy some for Christmas. They just finished Week 9 of SC 3 and are doing pretty well, but they can't just read a book quietly yet.

Also, about once a week, when my DH and I go out for our weekly date night (yay!), our older girls babysit and the boys watch a movie. We have some Narnia, Lord of the Rings, and other good movies. Occasionally I will be out during the week, and they may watch another movie, since they don't always entertain themselves very productively. I try to keep it to one each week, though, because my 11 year old pretends so much that he is one of the characters doing what they do in the movie. He has a very vivid imagination and it can be kind of hard to pull him back out of character. So I try to strongly limit screens for both boys, especially him. We have some Math, Music, and Science experiments videos that our older kids used in their school, so sometimes during the week, the boys may watch those during a rainy afternoon or if Mom is out. Or something short, like a Lone Ranger episode. I don't like using screens to keep the boys busy, and our older bio kids hardly ever watched a movie, but sometimes it's the only thing that will work with the boys. Any suggestions here?

Thanks so much. Sorry this is long! Lillian

I have a subscription to Audible and most of it is taken up with books for my kids. I scan the read-alouds for each MP level or grade and then go through the Audible library and add each book to my wishlist. When a new credit appears in my account (once a month) I buy whatever book looks best in the wishlist. They have a surprising number of classic books available for purchase — nearly every book in the MP library is on Audible. I’d start there. If you cannot afford a monthly purchase, you can get a silver membership for half that and get a new book every other month.

As for CDs, you cannot go wrong with Jim Weiss. Go to Amazon and search his name under CDs. He’s a gold mine. Story of the World is a good series (from Well Trained Mind) and is also narrated by Weiss. It’s a big series with several collections and is availability in CD form.

Movies? Go backwards. Some of the best movies are old. My younger boy loves old westerns, war movies and anything with tanks or planes. The rest of the kids are a little more current and love Pixar. They’ve seen some movies that I loved as a kid, too, from the 80’s (though some have not aged quite as well as I remember from my younger days, so pre screen).

HTH!

[cherylswope]

Re: Audio books and movies?

When polled, my two recommended these for your boys:

Favorite audio books -- the Focus on the Family theater productions (high quality, carefully selected, classic literature). You'll find Anne of Green Gables, which my son loves, and others.

A favorite series here -- Andy Griffith (calm, linear, "hilarious" to the kids, small town feel similar to our own community).

A favorite movie -- Follow Me Boys (engaging, all boys, honor/duty/respect)

[LillianinAl]

Re: Audio books and movies?

Thank you, Anita, for your recommendations. I appreciate them!
And Cheryl, wow! Personalized recommendations from Michael and Michelle! Thank you for asking them. I will add these great suggestions to my boys' Christmas lists...

[enbateau]

Re: Audio books and movies?

This past summer we had been listening to biographies of popular missionaries like Adoniram Judson, David Livingstone, among others....gripping stories and well read. We also listened to C. S. Lewis' Mere Christianity. It was so good, although I'm sure the deep concepts were only marginally understood. Hoopla offers a lot of free audible books through many library systems.

[jejegreer]

Re: Audio books and movies?

If you have not already seen these, Where in the World Is Carmen San Diego, Schoolhouse Rock, and Learn Our History (from Mike Huckabee) are all entertaining. I am different than most parents in that we allow our children to see all movies that are not R-rated from the time that they are around 10. We just went to see Bohemian Rhapsody last Friday, and my daughters both loved it. It also brought about a very interesting conversation about Freddie Mercury's preference for men as romantic partners. I probably would not recommend that to start, but my kids have both really loved all of the Star Wars movies (and we have a light saber for play!), all of the Indiana Jones movies, all of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, as well as The Princess Bride and Titanic. I think little boys would love all of these movies (Titanic does show Kate Winsett's breasts, in an artistic and appropriate manner, but it might not be as good for boys as for girls). I do not know if these films are rated PG or PG-13, though, so you would want to check if you are concerned like literally every single one of my friends who think that kids should not see PG or PG-13 movies. I worked as an assistant talent director in Hollywood, so that may be why I am much more liberal with films, in case anyone wants to get worried. I see films as art, and I want to expose my children to the ones that are not full of drugs and/or *** scenes, but are fascinating, full of action, and artistic.

For audio, I do not know if you are Catholic or not, but the Glory Stories CDs about saints are fabulous! My children beg to hear them on car rides. I also really like all of the CDs narrated by Jim Weiss (there are a ton of great ones like Greek Myths, King Arthur, and The Jungle Book. Finally, if you do not already have Maestro Classics, these are musical CDs that tell great, classic stories like Casey at Bat and The Sorcerer's Apprentice. They are very well done, entertaining for children, and also help to develop a love of music.